The Cardinals should be better this year, even though their record might not show it.

Playing mostly underclassmen against a schedule mixed with NCAA Division I-FCS, Division II and NAIA opponents in 2013, Incarnate Word finished 6-5 for its first winning season in school history.

For a program that began in 2009, that's pretty good.

This season, the Cardinals will play their second season as an FCS provisional team in the Southland Conference.

They will play a full SLC schedule while transitioning to becoming fully eligible for NCAA championship events in the 2017-18 seasons.

Among their 11 opponents are Stephen F. Austin and three-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State — both on the road.

Kennan said the Cardinals are still young — “We only have six seniors who will play at all for us” — but the return of almost all of the team's skill position players from a year ago should make for an explosive offense.

Heading the list is sophomore quarterback Trent Brittain, who completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 1,893 yards and 11 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 2013 as a redshirt freshman.

Another is senior receiver Casey Jennings, a junior college transfer, who led the team with 738 receiving yards a year ago. He is one of 10 returning starters on offense.

Kennan is expecting big things from two newcomers — junior college transfer Stefon Martin, a deep threat at receiver, and Kody Edwards, a freshman receiver from Mesquite.